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Now that I’ve had the opportunity to write about the history of the CCC and the opening conference event, it is time to get excited about the rest of the weekend! Furthering the theme of “The Future of Coaching,” the conference will feature different workshops, speakers, vendors, and presentations sessions. Fortunately, I was granted a sneak peak at some of the engaging sessions that will be offered by ICF Metro DC members throughout the weekend!

The sessions are set to cover a range of topics; whether you are interested in finding a new methodology for coaching, learning about neuroscience, creating a business, or better motivating your clients, there is an in-depth session planned! Personally, I am very intrigued by the connections of neuroscience and coaching. Teresa Kloster and Wendy Swire will be leading a session based on a book that they co-authored. Their book, Anytime Coaching—Unleashing Employee Performance, explains techniques that boost the cognitive performance of both the coach and the client. Their model, PAF, has immediate application for coaches who are looking to fuse research with their current coaching practices. Studying the connections between neuroscience and coaching illuminate effective methods, such as meditation, and contributes to increasing the mindfulness of coaching sessions. Teresa Kloster and Wendy Swire will connect their neuroscience research and cognitive studies to the future of coaching by exploring the relationship of recent scientific research to the direction of trends within the field of coaching. Since neuroscience is integral to both how coaches approach the practice and how clients understand their own motivations, this session is relevant for new and seasoned coaches alike.

This is just one of many interactive sessions that will be offered during the conference! There are others that also focus on neuroscience and cognitive processes, there are sessions that encourage coaches to develop a better presence, there are sessions that teach more holistic approaches to coaching, and sessions that fuse the above topics by focusing on embodiment. All of the sessions relate to the overall theme of “The Future of Coaching” to provide cohesion to the conference and ensure that everything is relevant to attendees. In short, there are sessions galore! I hope to see you there!

The opening session of the CCC this year will feature one of the keynote speakers: Charles Eisenstein. I had the privilege of listening to a recording of a call between Charles and a few of the conference planners. They discussed the purpose of the conference, the goal of Charles’ sessions, and the structure of different events on the program. Here is a glimpse of their initial planning conversation!

According to Charles and the CCC planners, coaching depends on how culture defines success. Thus, current coaches have glimpses as to the future of coaching that are based on predicting future images of success. If mainstream culture shifts its definition of success, then coaching must anticipate that shift and adjust as well. The theme of the 2015 CCC, “The Future of Coaching,” ties into Charles’ message quite well. The future of coaching may seem different for everyone in attendance; a new coach in their 20s will most likely have a much different perspective than a seasoned coach in a later stage of life. Charles expressed that his goal is to help coaches identify what has changed in the world as well as what will change in the world; that way, coaches will be able to keep up with the rapid shifts in cultural influences. The opening keynote address is fittingly titled “Coaching in Transition.”

Toward the end of their discussion, Charles and the CCC planners talked about “the power of the question” as it applies to this year’s conference. While acknowledging that there aren’t answers to all of the necessary questions (including the question: “How am I going to make a living?”), the conference aims to raise relevant questions and seek feedback from the audience. The format of the opening session will seek to accommodate discussion through a thought-provoking and seemingly intimate atmosphere. Even if there are not answers to all of the questions about the future of coaching, beginning the conversation now about the transition into the future will equip attendees to work forward in confidence.